How Does Elmer's Glue Work? đŻ
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Morning Elmer!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d1161b1bb271f193ef7_Timeline_1_0000.gif)
You ever eat glue as a kid?
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d1110e3df1dd520591c_1.webp)
No? Donât want to admit it?
Well we all knew a kid that did.
And lucky for them the stuff isnât toxic.
But, how does Elmerâs glue even work?
Durdddddd!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d1008940776d71e85e7_2.webp)
Great.
Why are youâŚ
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10615a825a0d157ea1_3.webp)
O..kay..
So Elmerâs Glue is a PVA glue.
Polyvinyl Acetate.
Basically you take this thing called vinyl acetate â a clear liquid â and you POLYmerize it.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d12d5d8db7e02277bf5_4.webp)
Ya, youâre linking small molecules â monomers:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10f94d11e323910d5b_5-2.webp)
To form larger molecules â polymers:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d108a89efd9bfe45aac_6.webp)
Okay, Durd. Heat up our solution.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10e61857d3ec6916ab_7.webp)
Now add some water.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10a2390a7eda1c5166_8.webp)
Let it cool.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10b12d32cbdd072a10_9.webp)
Bottle it up.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10ca897a9daa57a74b_10.webp)
Youâve made Elmerâs glue!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d100b463d0808ea8dde_11.webp)
Well, because you added water, the polyvinyl acetate stays liquid in the bottle.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d1088c35586c00780ab_12.webp)
But apply the white glue to a surface:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10e61857d3ec69168f_13.webp)
The water evaporates:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d11f243576fef34d816_14.webp)
And the PVA glue molecules are left behind to form a strong bond â basically a plastic!
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/649aa49e57793ed61ecbd3fd/651e0d10d516db6d171543b6_15.webp)
Stay Cute,
Henry & Dylan đ
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